NATIONAL Party deputy leader Steph Ryan has been accused of threatening jobs in her electorate with moves to revoke planning approvals for the West Gate Tunnel project by the Victorian Opposition on Wednesday.
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The Andrews Government announced last week 400 jobs would be created in Benalla to help build the tunnel.
Benalla, a major centre in the Euroa electorate, will be home to a $60 million factory capable of producing up to 1500 tonnes of concrete daily.
“Steph Ryan is putting politics before jobs,” industry and labor minister Ben Carroll said.
“She needs to stand up to the Liberals and put people first.
“This reckless move to stop the West Gate Tunnel is putting 400 jobs in Benalla on the line.”
But Ms Ryan described Mr Carroll’s comments as a political stunt.
“We will be going to the election with a full infrastructure agenda which the plant proposed by John Holland will be able to supply,” she said.
“Major infrastructure companies like John Holland regularly tender for government work.
“They do not build plants like these for one project.”
Ms Ryan said the West Gate Tunnel project was a “secret deal” done with Transurban designed to extend tolls on CityLink for another two decades.
If the planning approvals are revoked work will cease immediately on the project which has already created 700 jobs.
